Environmental Specialist - Program Coordination and Implementation

Environmental Specialist, Program Coordination and Implementation

Minnkota is seeking an Environmental Specialist, dealing with Program Coordination and Implementation. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to apply their knowledge and skills to evaluate and determine the impact of Minnkota’s commercial activities and an ability to engage and advise internal stakeholders on environmental best practices and compliance obligations. Additionally, the successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to safety and environmental compliance in all job aspects, among other duties.

The median of the range for compensation for this role is $98,500 per year. Appropriate compensation will be determined based on a candidate's skills, education, and previous relevant experience.

Required

• A minimum of a bachelor of science in wildlife biology, environmental sciences, natural resources or related field
• Demonstrated competency of government agencies’ regulatory processes and requirements
• A minimum of 1 year of experience with environmental permitting, monitoring, or compliance in an industrial setting, including, but not limited to, generation and transmission, utilities, industrial facilities and state or federal environmental agencies
• Excellent written communication and proficiency with technical reports
• Motivated self-starter, proactively reacts to mitigate problems
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Analytical mindset and strong problem-solving skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to work well autonomously or in a team setting
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint and OneNote
• This person must maintain a valid driver’s license.

Preferred

• Degree in Environmental Engineering or engineering with equivalent environmental experience.
• Environmental certification.
• Experience in providing for compliance with the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Gold and Bald Eagle Protection Act. Experience includes the preparation of categorical exclusion environmental reports, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements.
• Experience in environmental monitoring, surveying and habitat evaluation.
• Meaningful experience or education in wildlife biology or habitat management experience or education.

Essential Functions

• Pollinator and Avian Protection Program implementation- Participate in the development and compliance with vegetation management activities within and along generation, substation and transmission assets and right-of-ways throughout Minnkota’s territory. You may be in the field up to 50% of the time but home most nights.
  • Facilitate as the environmental department representative and assist in the development and implementation of short-term and long-term regional (multi-district) management plan for vegetation control.
  • Plan and coordinate with operations leadership an integrated vegetation management program activities to support ongoing compliance obligations.
  • Coordinate, and may participate in, field surveys and evaluations of habitat areas.
  • Develop and prioritize annual, out-year, and special project schedules, budgets, and requests or the vegetation management and access road programs, coordinating planned activities with affected departments (e.g., Transmission Line Maintenance, ROW, Environment, Contracting) to identify and resolve critical issues, avoid regional and system conflicts, and insure project success.
  • Prepare site-specific vegetation management prescriptions and related checklists (or ROW management plans) consistent with guidance provided by program administrator and related National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert in vegetation management and avian program compliance to various internal groups, outside agencies, and the public as issues arise within MPC transmission and distribution territory including negotiation, coordination with county-weed boards and other entities (e.g., Army Corps, Forest Service, state departments of natural resources, Bureau of Reclamation, etc.).
  • Respond to inquiries, from a broad range of sources, on sensitive issues involving vegetation control methods, herbicide application, protection of cultural resources and other related issues.
  • Initiate, negotiate, and maintain cooperative agreements with public and private landowners (including dispute resolutions), other agencies such as the USFWS, or Native American Tribes regarding ROW management and maintenance practices.
• Develops training and coordinates implementation of training programs for best management practices and compliance obligations:
  • Coordinates assigned tasks relating to the NDPDES program.
  • Provides oil spill (SPCC) and PCB cleanup training.
  • Provides required training on DOT hazardous material regulations.
  • Performs training for completion of and participates in annual nest surveys.
• Implementation of compliance for SPCC and PCB programs.
  • PCB Substation Soil Sampling Program – Conduct site visits for substations with PCB oil containing equipment and document presence of equipment
  • Responsible for the PCB soil sampling program and procedures, coordination of any site remediation activities.
  • Ensure compliance with spill prevention measures were being implemented at substations and the Grand Forks Corporate Campus.
  • Conduct SPCC inspections and compliance reviews at substations, perform 5-year evaluations on self-certified plans, conduct field visits for compliance verification of secondary containment, perform substation trainings to outpost linemen on SPCC requirements at each station that is required to have a plan by Part 112
• Universal Waste program implementation
  • Position would be responsible for tracking of universal waste and amount shipped to ensure compliance with regulations.
  • Training, as needed, on the requirements and procedures for universal waste disposal and ensure compliance in disposal of batteries, light bulbs, and aerosol cans.
  • Act as the lead for environmental in coordinating operations and maintenance personnel Tracking and compliance should be a part of the Environmental Program responsibility
• HAZMAT DOT registration
  • Maintaining Minnkota’s HAZMAT registration
  • Responsible for ensuring environmental compliance and internal coordination of shipping PCBs and any other Hazardous Materials.
• Assists with NEPA compliance for financing and project permitting, as needed:
  • Assists Environmental Manager and Environmental Specialist II with evaluation and communication with internal project managers.
  • Works with Engineering and ROW departments to assess potential environmental issues with current or proposed substation locations and transmission line routes.
  • Reviews and supports coordination of environmental recommendations with federal, state, local, and tribal entities, including the public.

Experience

• 1 year(s): Experience with environmental permitting, monitoring, or compliance in an industrial setting

• Experience in wildlife biology or habitat management
• Experience in environmental monitoring, surveying, and habitat evaluation

Education

• Bachelors or better in Environmental and Earth Science or related field

• Bachelors or better in Environmental Engineering

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)